End connection for pipes and a method for its manufacture

ABSTRACT

Method and arrangement for providing an end connection for pipes of a rigid, but deformable material. A pipe casing ( 1 ) is included that protrudes into the pipe end ( 15 ). The pipe casing is rotationally symmetric around a longitudinal axis ( 9 ), is made in a relatively rigid material, and is equipped with a mantle surface ( 2 ) having a diameter adapted to the inner diameter of the pipe in such a way that the pipe end may be applied on the pipe casing. The mantle surface is equipped with two recessed parts ( 3, 4 ) which run peripherally around the mantle surface. In the recessed parts ( 3, 4 ), embossed parts of the applied pipe end extend. A sealing member ( 13 ) ensures sealing between the pipe casing and the pipe end. The embossed parts ( 24, 25 ) of the pipe end ( 15 ) cooperate with the recessed parts ( 3, 4 ) to enable a relative rotational movement between the pipe end and the pipe casing ( 1 ). The sealing member ( 13 ) has a placement that is separated from the axial placement of the embossed and recessed parts; more precisely, in an intermediate part ( 10 ) of the mantle surface ( 2 ) of the pipe casing ( 1 ) between the recessed parts ( 3, 4 ).

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation patent application of International Application No. PCT/SE02/02442 filed 20 Dec. 2002 which was published in English pursuant to Article 21(2) of the Patent Cooperation Treaty, and which claims priority to Swedish Application No. 0104448-6 filed 27 Dec. 2001. Said applications are expressly incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an end connection for pipes made in a rigid, but deformable material. It includes a pipe end with a pipe casing that protrudes into the pipe end. A pipe casing is rotationally symmetric along a longitudinal axis thereof and which is made in a relatively rigid material and is equipped with a mantle surface and has a diameter that is adapted to the inner diameter of the pipe in such a way that the pipe end may be applied on the pipe casing. The mantle surface is equipped with at least two recessed parts that run peripherally around the mantle surface. Recessed parts are embossed parts of the applied pipe end extend, where at least one sealing member ensures sealing between the pipe casing and pipe end. The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing such an end connection for pipes.

BACKGROUND ART

From U.S. Pat. No. 6,059,338, it is previously known to arrange a pipe connection in the form of a tubular casing that is inserted in one end of a pipe. The pipe casing is formed with countersinks in which embossings are carried. A sealing element is arranged between the pipe casing and the pipe end. In order to obtain complete sealing, the sealing element has to be compressed, thus rendering the friction between the sealing element and the pipe casing on one hand, and the pipe end on the other hand so high that any relative rotation between the pipe casing and the pipe end normally is not possible.

For certain types of connections, the connection must be made in a predetermined rotational position of the connection relative to, for example, a fixed part in a pipe system. At conventional pipe connections, for example hydraulic systems, the pipe end and the included pipe casing are in many cases firmly connected with each other by means of soldering. Thus the pipe casing must be connected to the pipe end with a predetermined rotational angle, which requires special fixtures for final assembly of the end connection.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

The purpose of the present invention is to present an end connection at which no fixed rotational angle between the parts is required at their assembly. Another purpose of the present invention is to present a method at which a final assembly of the end connection may be performed without having to fix a predetermined rotational angle between the parts.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention shall in the following be described more in detail with a number of exemplary embodiments with reference to the appended drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a part of an end connection configured as a first embodiment according to the teachings of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional, partial cutaway view showing a longitudinal section through the end connection of FIG. 1 taken along line 2-2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of a finished end connection in a somewhat modified form of the first embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view taken along the line 4-4 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a a third embodiment of a finished end connection; and

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view taken along the line 6-6 in FIG. 5.

MODE FOR THE INVENTION

The end connection according to the invention shall first be described with respect to a first embodiment with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. The end connection comprises (includes, but is not limited to) a pipe casing 1 that is mainly cylindrical and that is equipped with a mantle surface 2. In the mantle surface, recessed parts 3, 4 are arranged; in the illustrated example, these parts 3, 4 number two, and are also cylindrical and equipped with abrupt transitions in the form of step edges 5, 6, 7, 8. These are, in the first example, shown laterally with respect to the longitudinal axis 9 of the pipe casing, and each one extends in its radial plane. Alternatively, the step edges 5-8 may be inclined; i.e., conically as may be seen in the examples of FIGS. 3-6, and may even meet in pairs in a common tip thus rendering the recessed parts a V-shaped cross sectional form.

An example of another cross sectional form is U-form. The recesses are placed at a distance from each other, enabling an intermediate part 10 to form therebetween, and which is cylindrical and thus is a part of the mantle surface 2 of the pipe casing. The mantle surface 2 will thus be divided into an intermediate part 10 and two outer parts 11, 12 of the mantle surface. In the example shown, the intermediate part is relatively symmetrically oriented along the length of the pipe casing 1 such that the outer parts 11, 12 are mainly of the same size. The three parts essentially have the same proportions; that is, the recesses 3, 4 divide the three parts of the mantle surface 2 into portions which are mainly the same size. In the example shown, there is a slightly longer intermediate part. In the illustration, the recesses have the same mutual width and depth, and fall considerably below the axial length of the intermediate part. Each recess 3, 4 has a width that falls below half the axial length of the intermediate part; in the example, mainly a third of its length. The depth of the recesses is limited by the wall thickness of the pipe casing, and in the example, is shown having a magnitude of approximately half the wall thickness.

Around the periphery of the intermediate part 10, one or more sealing elements 13 extend. The sealing elements 13 are made in an elastic, deformable material, such as a polymer or rubber. In the example shown, one sealing element 13 is used and centered symmetrically; i.e., in the middle of the mantle surface of the intermediate part 10, and more precisely in a groove 14 which is formed to receive a part of the sealing element, for example, half of its cross-sectional dimension. In the example shown, the sealing ring is an O-ring with a circular cross-sectional shape and the groove preferably has the cross-sectional form of a semicircle with the same diameter as the undeformed sealing ring. The sealing element may have other forms, for example rectangular, oval, and/or triangular cross sectional form and in which the groove 14 has a form and dimensions which are adapted to the cross sectional form and dimensions of the sealing element.

More sealing elements may be arranged side-by-side at a suitable distance distributed over the length of the intermediate part, not, however, in the immediate vicinity of the recessed parts 3, 4. In FIGS. 1 and 2, the sealing element 13 is shown in an undeformed condition; i.e., before the pipe casing 1 is inserted into a pipe end. The fact is that an end part 15 of a pipe is included in the end connection, which end part 15 in FIGS. 1 and 2 is only indicated schematically with dotted lines on one of the sides of the pipe casing. In order to ensure a correct position between the pipe casing and the end part 15, the pipe casing is formed with a ring-shaped stop edge 17 and its outer end 16, which stop edge 17 in the first and second embodiment is a part of a ring-shaped flange 18 that surrounds the outer, or front opening 19 of the pipe casing. Internally, the pipe casing is equipped with a cylindrical lead-through 20 which extends from the back or inner opening 20′ of the casing to the outer opening 19.

In FIGS. 3 and 4, a complete end connection is configured according to the invention, but in a second, somewhat modified embodiment that externally has the same appearance as the first embodiment. The pipe casing 1 also has the same main construction with the recesses having been given a lesser width, and the step edges 5-8 have been made less abrupt and form incline conical step surfaces. The width of the recesses; i.e., the axial dimension is, however, preferably greater than their depth; that is, the radial dimension. Further, the outer diameter of the pipe casing is dimensioned to establish a ring-shaped inter-space or gap space 21 between the mantle surface 2 and the cylindrical inner wall 22 of the pipe end. It is further apparent from FIG. 4 that the sealing element 13 in this condition with the pipe end applied is deformed to a great extent; i.e., flattened at the inner wall 22 of the pipe end, and is admitted to propagate somewhat axially in the ring-formed inter-space 21.

The pipe casing 1 is inserted in the pipe end 15 such that the ring-shaped front surface 23 of the pipe end is in contact with the stop edge 17 of the pipe casing. According to the invention, the pipe end is equipped with embossings 24, 25 in front of the recessed parts 3, 4 of the pipe casing. The embossings are of such character that they mainly cause a radial displacement of the material in the pipe wall; that is, an embossing of the outer mantle wall 26 of the pipe end results in a corresponding embossing of the inner wall 22 of the pipe end. The embossing is chosen with such a radial depth that the inside 27 of the embossings have a distance to the longitudinal axis 9 which falls below the outer diameter of the pipe casing; i.e., protrudes into the recessed parts. This means that the pipe end is mainly axially locked relative to the pipe casing; i.e., locked against axial relative movements with minor tolerances.

In practice, the embossings may be allowed to “touch bottom;” i.e., that they reach contact with their inside 27 against the bottom surface 28 of the recesses or some of the edge surfaces 29, 30. The contact pressure; that is, the clamping force in the acquired clamping function, shall, however, be balanced in such a way in combination with the friction between the sealing element 13 and its bearing surfaces of the inner wall 22 of the pipe end and/or the mantle surface 2 of the pipe casing. A relative rotational movement is possible between the pipe end 15 and pipe casing 1 when a torque is applied on the pipe end, exceeding a certain value. This value may for example be a torque which arises at a pretension that arises in a relatively rigid pipe conduit, which end is constituted by the pipe end 15 and where the connecting part of the end connection, in the example 18, is fixed mounted at an untwistable part 31, for example the wall of a machine part.

In FIGS. 5 and 6, a further embodiment is shown which completely corresponds to the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4 regarding the clamping technique, but in which the pipe casing 1 outside the pipe end 15 is formed in another way, and that is a so-called banjo-type nipple 32. This is intended for connection to a fixed fluid channel 33 which is indicated with dashed and dotted lines. The banjo-type nipple is formed with two parallel main connection surfaces 34, 35 for connection against the fixed orifice of the channel and enables adjustment of the nipple in a predetermined rotational position along the longitudinal axis 36 to a fastening screw 41, indicated in FIG. 6 with a dashed and dotted line. The fastening screw 41 is screwed into a fixed part 42 with an intermediate sealing washer. The connection communicates with the fixed channel 33 through one of the openings of the nipple, while the opposite opening is sealed by means of the screw head and a washer. Thus, a predetermined direction of the longitudinal axis 9 of the end connection which is suitable for the mounting is chosen, while that of the banjo-type nipple; i.e., the rotational position of the pipe casing 1 along its longitudinal axis 9, is determined by the surfaces 34, 35 of the banjo-type nipple—their connection planes.

By means of the end connection configured according to the invention, the pipe casing 1 may thus be turned to a rotational movement which is adapted for the mounting along its longitudinal axis 9 as the pipe end 15 may be turned around the longitudinal axis 9 by means of the turnable axially mainly locked connection between the pipe end and the pipe casing. The front surface 23 of the pipe end, in the example according to FIGS. 5 and 6 axially controlled in one of the directions as the banjo-type nipple is equipped with a thicker part 37 outside the pipe end and which by means of the step 17 transcends to the pipe casing with a main diameter that somewhat falls below the diameter of the inner wall 22 of the pipe end.

The manufacture of the end connection according to the invention has indirectly mainly been disclosed by the embodiments described above, but will in the following be summarized. The pipe casing 1 is thus made in a relatively hard material, suitably metal which is relatively hard to deform, for example galvanized steel, or some alloy thereof. The pipe casing is equipped with its recessed parts 3, 4 and the groove 14 for the sealing element by means of for example turning or milling. The sealing element is applied on the pipe casing and placed in its groove. Thereafter, the pipe end 15 is applied on the pipe casing 1. The pipe end thus belongs to a fluid pipe, for example a hydraulic pipe or compressed air pipe, which for example shall have an untwistable connection in its opposite end. The pipe end and the associated pipe are, for example, made in a somewhat softer, more easy to deform material that mainly provides a plastically remaining deformation such as copper, aluminum or some other suitable alloy thereof. The pipe end is applied until its front end comes into contact with the stop edge 17 of the pipe casing 1. Then, the relative axial position of the pipe end and the pipe casing has been taken.

Thus, the free end of the pipe casing, for example the banjo-type nipple, is retained in a fixture or another retainer which retains the pipe casing. In fixed positions relative to the fixture, clamping devices 38, 39 are arranged which have a clamping part that is schematically indicated in FIG. 5. These may either be arranged in as many sets as the number of recesses 3, 4; i.e., in the example shown two, or be a tool that in one sequence performs the work in front of each recessed part. The clamping devices may be arranged such as springing rings which are allowed to be brought radially inwards in the direction towards the longitudinal axis 9 a distance such that the permanent embossings 24, 25 are arranged in the pipe end such that they at least somewhat protrude into the recessed parts 3, 4. After the procedure has been performed, the clamping devices are brought back radially outwards as indicated by the direction of the double arrows 40. The embossings may be continuous and extend in a ring-shaped manner around the whole periphery of the pipe end or be local embossings at least three and uniformly distributed over the periphery. The recessed parts must, however, be ring-shaped in order to enable the relative rotational movement.

The pipe, and thereby the pipe end 15 are thus originally not a specially made part in contrast to a pipe-shaped coupling part or nipple, but the pipe end is formed by means of cutting off a continuous pipe to a desired length, which pipe is homogeneous and mainly has a mantle that is cylinder-shaped, regarding both its inner surface and its outer surface; that is, without abrupt shelves. 

1. An end connection for pipes made in a rigid, but deformable material, said end connection comprising: a pipe end (15) of a pipe casing (1) which protrudes into the pipe end, which pipe casing (1) is rotationally symmetric along a longitudinal axis (9) and which is made in a relatively rigid material and is equipped with a mantle surface (2) having a diameter adapted to the inner diameter of the pipe in such a way that the pipe end may be applied on the pipe casing; the mantle surface is equipped with at least two recessed parts (3, 4) that extend peripherally therearound, and in which recessed parts (3, 4) embossed parts of the applied pipe end extend; at least one sealing member (13) ensures sealing between the pipe casing and pipe end; and the embossed parts (24, 25) of the pipe end (15) co-operate with the recessed parts (3, 4) to enable a relative rotational movement between the pipe end and the pipe casing (1), and the sealing member (13) has a placement that is separated from the axial placement of the embossed and recessed parts.
 2. The end connection as recited in claim 1, wherein said placement of the sealing member is separated from an intermediate part (10) of the mantle surface (2) of the pipe casing (1) between the recessed parts (3, 4).
 3. The end connection as recited in claim 2, wherein the pipe casing being equipped with a ring-shaped sealing groove (14) in the intermediate part (10) of the mantle surface (2), which sealing groove (14) has a shape and dimensions which are adapted for receiving a part of the sealing member (13).
 4. The end connection as recited in claim 2, wherein the pipe casing (1) being equipped with a widened part (18, 32) in one end thereof, and which forms an axial end stop (17) for the pipe end (15).
 5. The end connection as recited in claim 3, wherein the widened part (32) is constituted by a banjo-type nipple with contact surfaces (34), situated in said connection plane.
 6. The end connection as recited in claim 3, wherein the widened part is constituted by a threaded part thereby enabling connection to a corresponding threaded, fixed part, by means of the end connection.
 7. A method for manufacturing an end connection for pipes made in a rigid, but deformable material, said method comprising: providing a connection part with a pipe casing (1) that protrudes into the pipe, which pipe casing (1) is rotationally symmetric along a longitudinal axis (9) and is made in a relatively rigid material that is less deformable than the pipe and is equipped with a mantle surface (2), which has a diameter that is adapted to the inner diameter of the pipe in such a way that the pipe may be applied on the pipe casing (1), the mantle surface (2) is equipped with at least two recessed parts (3, 4) which extend peripherally around the mantle surface, in which recessed parts (3, 4) embossed parts of the applied pipe end extend, where at least one sealing member (13) ensures sealing between the pipe casing and the pipe end; placing the said sealing member in a predetermined position in an intermediate part (10) of the pipe casing between the recessed parts; applying the pipe end on the pipe casing to a predetermined axial relative position; and equipping the pipe end (15) with the embossed parts axially in front of the recesses in the pipe casing with a clamping force that is adapted to permit relative rotation of the pipe end with respect to the pipe casing around a longitudinal axis (9) thereof, and limit relative (or lock) axial movement.
 8. The method as recited in claim 7, wherein said limitation of axial movement is a locking that prevents axial movement. 